Leven
Major Settlement in the Parish of Leven
Historical Forms
- Leuen(e), Leven(e) 1086 DB 1172 Meaux late12th Nunkeel 1205 ChR 1840 Poulson
- Levena 1235–49,1401 Melsa
- Leaven 1572 FF 1650 ParlSurv
Etymology
Probably Leven was originally the name of one of the streams in the district. It is the river-name Leven, which Ekwall (RN 251) identifies with a British name (s )libnios or (s )limno (inferred from Ptolemy's Λιβυίος ), from the root *(s )leib 'drip' or 'glide.' Leven would mean 'the slow-moving one.'